Yield and quality characteristics of paneer made from milk blend containing homogenized milk

The research was carried out to ascertain the feasibility of preparing paneer from milk blend containing low pressure homogenized milk to avail the benefits rendered by homogenization. Standardized milk was subjected to two-stage homogenization (4.90 and 0.98 MPa respectively) and then blended with unhomogenized standardized milk in three proportions (i.e. 3:7, 4:6 and 1:1, w/w). It was necessary to add calcium chloride to the milk blend to improve the firmness of resultant paneer. The experimental paneer samples obtained from ‘milk blend’ containing homogenized milk, as well as control sample (only from unhomogenized milk) were studied for their proximate composition, physico-chemical characteristics, textural properties and sensory quality. Paneer obtained from milk blend (homogenized:unhomogenized; 4:6 w/w) resulted in greater fat recovery and moisture content culminating in significantly higher yield compared to control paneer (CP). The hardness of paneer obtained from blended milks was lower, but the springiness of BMP3:7 sample was greater than that of CP. The total sensory score of experimental paneer BMP4:6 was similar to the score associated with CP, but greater than the scores associated with paneer samples BMP3:7 and BMP1:1. Blending of homogenized (low pressure) milk with unhomogenized milk in 4:6 proportion helped in obtaining paneer with superior fat recovery and yield compared to use of unhomogenized milk, without any adverse effect on sensory properties and with concomitant cost savings.